Anil sets ton as Nepal enters Division 3

Kathmandu/Cricnepal: Anil Mandal sets a ton as Nepal register a fifth victory in a row in the ICC World Cricket League Division 4 and enter the ICC World Cricket League Division 3 as group winner.

In a rain-affected match, Nepal scored 240 runs in 50 overs losing all wickets where Denmark could make a reply of 130 for 9 in 31 overs and thus Denmark lost by 25 runs as per D/L method.

Man of the match Anil Mandal scored 113 runs from 134 balls with eight fours and four sixes as he list himself as the fifth Nepali batsman to score an international hundred in senior one day matches. Subash got in the list two day before when he scored 115 against USA.

Man of the match Anil Mandal (113 off 135 balls) with man of the match trophy. Photo: ICC/Peter Lim

Nepal chose to bat first but unfortunately lost Subash Khakurel in the very second ball. Gyanendra Malla then played some control before being out on 26 runs from 35 balls with four fours. Paras Khadka then joined Malla making just 3 runs leaving Nepal to 50 for 3.

89 runs partnership between Anil and Sharad Vesawkar controlled the game towards Nepal side. Nepal lost Sharad in 36th over when Sharad was at 27 off 66 balls.

Anil completed his half-century in 90 balls. But it did not take more than 27 balls to reach his second fifty as the batsman reached his maiden hundred.

Anil was later out on 113 off 134 balls with 8 fours and 4 sixes. Basant Regmi, Binod Das, and Pradeep Airee each contributed some runs before being bundled for 240. Basanta scored 21 runs, Binod scored 15 runs and Pradeep added 11 runs. Sanjam Regmi was given out for obstructing the field in the last ball.

In chasing the target, Denmark too looked to be in some pressure as they lost Carsten Pedersen in second over.
Nepal got the second breakthrough in the 14th over when Shehzad Ahmed was trapped leg before wicket for 9 runs. Taha Ahmed became the next victim in 21st over. But then, Andreas Lambert looked danger, Lambert was on 47 when the rain stopped the play at the completion of the 25 overs.

Denmark’s target was revised to 156 in 31 overs but Nepal had control over the game as soon as the match started after Lambert departed in the very first ball on resumption as Sanjam sent him bowled.

Despite, Binod conceding 12 runs in an over, Paras getting himself uneasy with 18 runs in an over, Basanta Regmi held the six balls with 5 runs. Paras entered to bowl the last over when Denmark needed 29 for victory. Paras then took three wickets in the last over as Paras finished with 4/34.

Sanjam and Basant claimed two wickets each while Shakti Gauchan picked up one.

While in the other match, USA beat Singapore by 37 runs by D/L methods and entered Division 3. Denmark, USA and Singapore each had three wins while USA was ahead of the net run rate. Nepal will now play USA for the trophy on Monday, Singapore will play Denmark for third place while the relegated teams Malaysia and Tanzania will play for the fifth spot.